A Reader's Guide to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian

Want to enjoy reading the classic historical work Records of the Grand Historian? This complete, easy-to-read edition is an excellent choice. It presents the work by Sima Qian, a Western Han historian, in accessible vernacular Chinese, allowing more readers to appreciate this monumental history.

Records of the Grand Historian is widely regarded as the model for Chinese historical works and is the first of the Twenty-Four Histories. Lu Xun praised it as “the historian’s swan song, a Li Sao without rhyme.” Originally known as The Book of the Grand Historian, it chronicles more than 3,000 years of history, from the legendary reign of the Yellow Emperor in ancient times to the fourth year of the Taichu era under Emperor Wu of Han. The work comprises 130 chapters and more than 526,500 characters: twelve Basic Annals recording the achievements of successive emperors, thirty Hereditary Houses on the rise and fall of vassal states and the nobles of the Han Dynasty, seventy Biographies of notable figures, ten chronological tables, and eight treatises on institutions and systems. It is a sweeping, comprehensive history of China.

In this complete vernacular edition, obscure classical prose is no longer an obstacle to reading. The suspense of the Feast at Hong Gate, Xiang Yu’s commanding presence, and Liu Bang’s patience are vividly brought to life. The deep bond between Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya reveals a moving and sincere friendship. Read it and journey through the long river of history, experiencing the wisdom and emotions of the ancients. Whether you love history or hope to deepen your cultural knowledge, you’ll find much to gain and endless nourishment for the spirit.